USB3.0 connector and method of making the same

Abstract

A USB3.0 connector includes an insulative body, a plurality of first and second terminals, and an outer shell covering the insulative body. The insulative body includes a base that has a base upper wall, a base lower wall, and two base sidewalls. The base lower wall has a rear end notched in a frontward direction to form a plurality of alternating shallow and deep notches to position first and second legs of the first and second terminals, which are bent downwardly. The alternating shallow and deep notches space the first legs apart from the second legs, respectively. The number of component parts for assembly is therefore reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A USB3.0 connector comprising:
 an insulative body including a base that has a base upper wall, a base lower wall, and two base sidewalls interconnecting said base upper and lower walls, a tongue plate projecting forwardly from a front side of said base, a clamp plate projecting forwardly from a bottom side of said base lower wall, and a rear recess that is formed in a rear part of said base and that is surrounded by said base upper and lower walls and said base sidewalls, said base lower wall having a rear end notched in a frontward direction to form a plurality of alternating shallow and deep notches, each of said base sidewalls having a guide groove extending in a front-rear direction; 
 a plurality of first terminals each having a first contact plate fitted in a bottom side of said tongue plate, and a first leg bending downwardly from said first contact plate and extending through one of said deep notches; 
 a plurality of second terminals each having a second contact plate fitted in a top side of said tongue plate, and a second leg bending downwardly from said second contact plate and extending through one of said shallow notches; and 
 an outer shell covering said insulative body and including a shell top wall, a shell bottom wall, and two shell sidewalls, said shell top wall being longer than and extending beyond a rear end of said shell bottom wall, each of said shell sidewalls having a guide tab engaging said guide groove of one of said base sidewalls, 
 wherein two of said second terminals are proximate to said base sidewalls, respectively, said second leg of each of said two of said second terminals having a transversely projecting outer edge, and an indented inner edge opposite to said projecting outer edge, said projecting outer edge abutting against said base lower wall adjacent a respective one of said shallow notches, said indented inner edge receiving and engaging an edge of said base lower wall adjacent to the respective one of said shallow notches. 
 
     
     
       2. The USB 3.0 connector of  claim 1 , wherein said insulative body further includes an engaging slot formed in said front side of said base above said clamp plate, and said outer shell further includes an engaging lug projecting rearwardly from said shell bottom wall, said shell bottom wall having a bottom side abutting against said clamp plate, said engaging lug being inserted into said engaging slot. 
     
     
       3. The USB 3.0 connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of said base sidewalls further has a wedge-shaped protrusion formed in said guide groove in proximity to said front side of said base, each of said shell sidewalls further having a stop plate disposed in front of said guide tab and engaging said wedge-shaped protrusion, said guide tab and said stop plate being engaged in the respective one of said guide grooves and proximate to rear and front ends of the respective one of said guide grooves. 
     
     
       4. A USB3.0 connector comprising:
 an insulative body including a base that has a base upper wall, a base lower wall, and two base sidewalls interconnecting said base upper and lower walls, a tongue plate projecting forwardly from a front side of said base, a clamp plate projecting forwardly from a bottom side of said base lower wall, and a rear recess that is formed in a rear part of said base and that is surrounded by said base upper and lower walls and said base sidewalls, said base lower wall having a rear end notched in a frontward direction to form a plurality of alternating shallow and deep notches, each of said base sidewalls having a guide groove extending in a front-rear direction; 
 a plurality of first terminals each having a first contact late fitted in a bottom side of said tongue plate, and a first leg bending downwardly from said first contact plate and extending through one of said deep notches; 
 a plurality of second terminals each having a second contact plate fitted in a top side of said tongue plate, and a second leg bending downwardly from said second contact plate and extending through one of said shallow notches; 
 an outer shell covering said insulative body and including shell for wall a shell bottom wall, and two shell sidewalls, said shell top wall being longer than and extending beyond a rear end of said shell bottom wall each of said shell sidewalls having a guide tab engaging said guide groove of one of said base sidewalls; and 
 a rear cover, said outer shell further including first positioning holes formed respectively in said shell sidewalls proximate to a rear end of said outer shell, and a second positioning hole formed in said shell top wall proximate to said rear end, said rear cover having a rear plate covering said rear recess of said base, a top plate projecting forwardly from a top end of said rear plate, two outer clamp plates bending forwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of said rear plate and extending over outer sides of said shell sidewalls, respectively, two inner clamp plates bending forwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of said rear plate and inserted between said base and said outer shell, two first protrusions respectively projecting from outer surfaces of said inner clamp plates and engaging said first positioning holes, and a second protrusion projecting downwardly from said top plate and engaging said second positioning hole.